Downham Stow overcame challenging conditions and a rain delay to claim a vital East Anglian Premier League win, thanks to a sensational spell from Ben Stolworthy.
Stolworthy, who took 7 for 41 to skittle the hosts for just 90, tore through the top order at Friars Street with lethal precision.
With drizzle between 3pm and 4:30pm reducing the match to 50 overs for Downham and 42 for Sudbury, batting was a stern test on a pitch offering consistent seam and swing movement.
Opting to bat first, Downham relied on moments of quality to post a competitive total.
Opener Will Denny impressed with a fluent 37, driving stylishly before falling to a fine catch at mid-wicket.
Freddie Fairey anchored the innings with a composed 49, combining calm shot selection with timely aggression.
Despite the interruptions, Downham’s middle and lower order pushed the total to a defendable score.
The visitors slumped from 131-4 to 156 all out, losing their last six wickets for just 25 runs.
Sudbury’s chase quickly came unstuck against Stolworthy’s relentless pace and movement.
When Stolworthy dismissed Bobby East for a golden duck, completing a remarkable five-wicket haul inside his first six overs, the writing was on the wall for the home side.
Exploiting the surface superbly, he tore through the home side’s batting order, claiming a career-best 7-41.
Supported by sharp catching and tidy glovework behind the stumps, Sudbury were dismissed well short of their target.
Reflecting on the win, captain Ben Wilcox praised his attack: “In red-ball cricket, I’m always confident—we’ve got two genuine wicket-takers and a fielding unit that backs them up.”
But he also issued a challenge to the batters: “The bowling was faultless, but our top order needs to put more runs together – we have to build partnerships.”
The victory keeps Downham Stow firmly in contention in the upper reaches of the table, while Stolworthy’s spell will be remembered as one of the season’s defining bowling performances.
Man of the Match: Ben Stolworthy.
Next up for Downham Stow is a home game against third-placed Copdock & Old Ipswichian on Saturday.
